(Nov. 13, 2026) – On Tuesday, the Trump administration proposed ending “Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility,” which lets states provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to families who qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) urges President Donald Trump and his administration to reverse course on a proposal that would risk the food security of more than six million children in America.
On Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a federal rule change that would eliminate Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, a provision that allows states to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who qualify for cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
This latest attack on America’s children by the Trump administration could result in more than three million households losing access to basic food supports. Since the President signed H.R. 1 into law in July 2025, more than 5.5 million people lost their SNAP benefits over the following year through July 2026, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
CDF, the child advocacy organization with a more than fifty-year legacy of standing for children at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, is also concerned that the USDA’s proposal would impact the provision of free lunches in public schools. Many public schools use SNAP to automatically enroll children in free meal programs, meaning any child who loses SNAP access could also lose automatic eligibility for free school meals, exacerbating food insecurity in school districts across the country.
The proposal could also undermine participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), reducing reimbursements for high-poverty schools. Research The Food Research & Action Center shows that CEP not only reduces food insecurity, but also improves student health, behavior, and attendance, all of which boost academic performance. More than 27 million children attend CEP schools during the 2025-2026 school year.
Read a portion of CDF National Director of Public Affairs Nick Vucic’s full statement regarding the Trump administration’s proposed rule change here.
“A foundation of Children’s Defense Fund’s (CDF) work is the commitment that all children should have access to what they need to thrive. This includes regular, nourishing meals and permanent, universal free school meals as a core support to ensure children’s physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being. We know as parents and caregivers, providers, family, friends, advocates, and community members that no child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive should ever be limited by hunger.
“This proposal will most directly impact children of color, especially Black children who already experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 27 percent of Black children lived in food-insecure households in 2023, meaning more than one in four Black children lacked consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
“Through its frequent and continued attacks on Head Start, Medicaid, housing assistance, TANF, childcare assistance, and food assistance, the Trump Administration has made it clear that the well-being of children in America is not a priority. Instead, it has become a target for cuts. We urge the president and his administration to reverse course on this proposal and work to improve food security for the sake of all Americans.”